At DriveSmart, we know that buying a used car can be stressful. Price, condition, mileage, and service history are all crucial points. There’s another vital factor requiring consideration, too: all-important safety features.
Modern cars and trucks are now safer than ever. New vehicles are typically loaded with safety-focused features. The good news is that many of these features are available on used cars. That’s especially true when looking at those manufactured in the last few years.
But what about slightly older used vehicles? DriveSmart wants to ensure that you’re buying the safest make and model of any car or truck. With that, there is a trio of must-have safety features to look out for. These features, as follows, should be deemed essential on any used vehicle:
- Airbags
- Anti-lock brakes
- Electronic stability control
To understand why these safety features are so important, let’s take a closer look at each.
Table of Contents
Airbags
The more airbags, the better. Front airbags have been standard on all new cars and trucks since 1999. Airbags have since saved thousands of lives, which is why they’re one of DriveSmart’s most important used car safety features.
Ideally, look for adaptive airbags that detect the presence of a driver and their passengers. In addition to front airbags, side airbags and additional so-called curtain airbags further help to protect you and your traveling companions in the event of a crash.
Anti-Lock Brakes
Anti-lock brakes are a critical used car safety feature to consider for various reasons. Crucially, they prevent your vehicle’s wheels from locking under hard braking. Under such circumstances, without anti-lock brakes, there can be a loss of steering.
By stopping this from happening, you remain in the best possible control of your car or truck when braking hard. The result is that steering is maintained, allowing you to maneuver around obstacles while simultaneously applying the brakes.
Electronic Stability Control
Electronic stability control is a modern form of traction control. Traction control prevents your vehicle’s wheels from spinning while accelerating, making it especially useful when driving in inclement weather. Electronic stability control builds upon this by helping to prevent sliding or skidding.
It’s a feature on many cars manufactured in the last decade, but not all. Powered by a small computer, it uses sensors to stabilize a car’s path, particularly during turning or traveling on icy or wet roads.
Electronic stability control automatically adjusts a vehicle’s brakes, engine power, and other parameters to protect against potential accidents. For that reason, it’s a must-have feature on any used car purchased today.
Further Protection with DriveSmart
With the above safety features in place, you and your passengers are as well-protected on the roads as possible. When purchasing a used vehicle, looking out for these all-important features will help you make the best-informed decision.
DriveSmart can also help to simplify the process further with an extended vehicle warranty. With a DriveSmart policy, your newly purchased vehicle is covered in the event of any number of eventualities. And that doesn’t just include auto repairs. Because at DriveSmart, we also pay for your brake pads, fluid flushes, oil changes, and more.
For further information, check out Why DriveSmart? or visit the DriveSmart homepage for a one-click quote.